Notice of Request for Extension of Approval of an Information Collection; Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI); Additional Testing and Reporting of HPAI in Livestock and Milk, 9960-9961 [2025-02853]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
• Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 33 (Thursday, February 20, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 9960-9961]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2025-02853]


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Notices
                                                Federal Register
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Federal Register / Vol. 90, No. 33 / Thursday, February 20, 2025 / 
Notices

[[Page 9960]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2024-0069]


Notice of Request for Extension of Approval of an Information 
Collection; Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI); Additional 
Testing and Reporting of HPAI in Livestock and Milk

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Extension of approval of an information collection; comment 
request.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this 
notice announces the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service's 
intention to request an extension of approval of an information 
collection associated with testing of milk from dairy cattle with 
reference to the incidence of highly pathogenic avian influenza in 
dairy cattle.

DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before April 
21, 2025.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to www.regulations.gov. 
Enter APHIS-2024-0069 in the Search field. Select the Documents tab, 
then select the Comment button in the list of documents.
     Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Send your comment to 
Docket No. APHIS-2024-0069, Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, 
APHIS, Station 2C-10.16, 4700 River Road, Unit 25, Riverdale, MD 20737-
1238.
    Supporting documents and any comments we receive on this docket may 
be viewed at regulations.gov or in our reading room, which is located 
in room 1620 of the USDA South Building, 14th Street and Independence 
Avenue SW, Washington, DC. Normal reading room hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 
p.m., Monday through Friday, except holidays. To be sure someone is 
there to help you, please call (202) 799-7039 before coming.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information on APHIS Veterinary 
Services' efforts to control and eradicate HPAI in dairy cattle, 
contact Dr. Megan Schmid, Assistant Director, Cattle Health Center, VS, 
APHIS, 2150 Centre Ave., Bldg. B, Fort Collins, CO 80524; (512) 745-
9862; email: [email protected]. For more detailed information on 
the information collection process, contact Mr. Joseph Moxey, APHIS' 
Paperwork Reduction Act Coordinator, at (301) 851-2533 or email: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Title: Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI); Additional Testing 
and Reporting of HPAI in Livestock and Milk.
    OMB Control Number: 0579-0496.
    Type of Request: Extension of approval of an information 
collection.
    Abstract: The Animal Health Protection Act (AHPA) of 2002 is the 
primary Federal law governing the protection of animal health. The law 
gives the Secretary of Agriculture broad authority to detect, control, 
or eradicate pests or diseases of livestock or poultry. The Secretary 
may also prohibit or restrict import or export of any animal or related 
material if required to prevent the spread of any livestock or poultry 
pest or disease. AHPA is contained in title X, subtitle E, sections 
10401-10418 of Public Law 107-171, May 13, 2002, the Farm Security and 
Rural Investment Act of 2002; 7 U.S.C. 8301, et seq.
    Within the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Animal and Plant 
Health Inspection Service (APHIS), part of Veterinary Services' mission 
is preventing foreign animal disease outbreaks in the United States, 
and monitoring, controlling, and eliminating a disease outbreak should 
one occur. Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) is a contagious 
viral disease of domestic poultry and wild birds. HPAI is deadly to 
domestic poultry and can wipe out entire flocks within a matter of 
days. HPAI is a threat to the poultry industry, animal health, human 
health, trade, and the economy worldwide. In the United States, HPAI 
H5N1 was detected in dairy cattle in March 2024. As of February 10, 
2025, USDA has confirmed 964 HPAI H5N1 detections in 17 States 
(California, Colorado, Kansas, Idaho, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, 
Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, South 
Dakota, Texas, Utah, and Wyoming). Additionally, in the last 30 days, 
APHIS has also confirmed 149 detections in poultry premises across 15 
States.
    USDA has already recognized HPAI as a threat, and APHIS already 
prohibits the interstate movement of animals infected with HPAI (9 CFR 
71.3(b)). This new, distinct HPAI H5N1 virus genotype, infects both 
cattle and poultry. The phylogenetic and epidemiological data indicate 
spread between dairy premises and from dairy premises to poultry 
premises. The virus is shed in milk at high concentrations. Anything 
that encounters unpasteurized milk, such as spilled milk, or milk 
residue, has the potential to spread the virus to humans or other 
animals, and can contaminate vehicles and other objects or materials. 
These factors show that this outbreak is having a continuing sizable 
economic impact. In response, APHIS has issued two Federal Orders, thus 
far.
    On April 24, 2024, APHIS issued a Federal Order to assist with 
developing a baseline of critical information and limiting the spread 
of H5N1 in dairy cattle. The Federal Order requires testing lactating 
dairy cattle prior to interstate movement and mandatory reporting from 
laboratories of positive influenza A cases in livestock as well as 
epidemiological reporting. APHIS has also been working to enhance 
ongoing herd surveillance through the HPAI Dairy Herd Status Program, 
which has begun using bulk milk testing.
    On December 6, 2024, APHIS issued a second Federal Order to assist 
with limiting the spread of H5N1. This Federal Order specifically 
addresses the spread of the virus through raw milk and adds testing of 
raw (unpasteurized) milk to detect and provide data for the control and 
eradication of HPAI. Samples are to be collected at facilities that 
ship, receive, or transfer milk interstate. Laboratories and State 
veterinarians must report positive influenza A nucleic acid detection 
results (e.g., polymerase chain reaction or genetic sequencing) in 
diagnostic samples obtained from livestock,

[[Page 9961]]

including raw (unpasteurized) milk, to APHIS. APHIS issued this second 
Federal Order because, while movement controls implemented under the 
earlier Federal Order have had a positive effect on reducing 
transmission across State lines, HPAI infections linger in States that 
have not been able to institute a widespread bulk milk testing program. 
Often the affected farms show no clinical signs. Supporting and 
requiring national level bulk milk testing will help States and 
producers identify areas where H5N1 is lingering. Owners of herds in 
which dairy cattle test positive for interstate movement, or herds 
identified through mandatory testing of raw (unpasteurized) milk for 
pasteurization, will be required to provide epidemiological 
information, including animal movement tracing to State animal health 
officials for follow up.
    We are asking the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to approve 
our use of these information collection activities for 3 years.
    The purpose of this notice is to solicit comments from the public 
(as well as affected agencies) concerning our information collection. 
These comments will help us:
    (1) Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is 
necessary for the control and/or eradication of HPAI in dairy cattle, 
including whether the information will have practical utility;
    (2) Evaluate the accuracy of our estimate of the burden of the 
collection of information, including the validity of the methodology 
and assumptions used;
    (3) Enhance the quality, use, and clarity of the information to be 
collected; and
    (4) Minimize the burden of the collection of information on those 
who are to respond, through use, as appropriate, of automated, 
electronic, mechanical, or other collection techniques or other 
technologies.
    Estimate of burden: The public burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 1.065 hours per response.
    Respondents: Dairy cattle producers; State, local, and Tribal 
governments; laboratory staff; accredited veterinarians; and other 
individuals, as appropriate.
    Estimated annual number of respondents: 1,650.
    Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 35.7.
    Estimated annual number of responses: 58,860.
    Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 62,705 hours. (Due to 
averaging, the total annual burden hours may not equal the product of 
the annual number of responses multiplied by the reporting burden per 
response.)
    All responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the 
request for OMB approval. All comments will also become a matter of 
public record.

    Done in Washington, DC, this 12th day of February 2025.
Michael Watson,
Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2025-02853 Filed 2-19-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P